Some other little-known facts about NJ:
Median family income in NJ is ranked number one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States#Income_by_state
Of course, the cost of living here is higher, too.
And NJ is ranked dead last in federal funds received for every dollar paid in federal taxes:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/266.html
I guess the number of millionaire households and the relatively high median household income explains the higher federal tax burden. After all, federal income tax is not adjusted for cost of living.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey#Economy
Most red states are below the average and the blue states are richer. Very interesting I must say. Yes I live in a state that has turned blue recently and we are not very high on the rank list. Pennsylvania.